Installing current gen rubber on original Seamaster Pro

ErichPryde

Do you happen to know that reference number? Obviously not important, just curious for my own personal data

ErichPryde

Interesting- that's for the updated version that came out in late 06. Was wondering if there was a reference number for the 2531 on the double-hump prior gen rubber strap.

Probably not?

Jakeys

I thought I would do a bit of a write up on the details around fitting the current generation Seamaster Professional/Diver 300M rubber straps to first generation 1990's and early 2000's Seamaster Professional 41mm references. Some other members have posted before in comments that this does fit, but the consensus is that it is a tight fit, and there is talk of different spring bars or potential damage. I decided to provide a little bit more specific detail in a dedicated thread.

So, firstly, this applies to the two piece straps currently on Omega's website for Seamaster Diver 300M models, formerly known as Seamaster Professional 300M. My specific example is listed as SKU 032CVZ010127. They're designed for current Seamaster models and fit them perfectly, with flush lugs and perfect springbar placement. If you want to fit those straps to older first generation Seamaster Professional 300M models, such as the Bonds (2541.80 and 2531.80) or Peter Blake (2254.50) or others with 41mm cases, this post covers that. I think the mid cycle refresh applied dial co-axial references (2220.80 and others) must also work, but can't speak for any Planet Oceans or the ceramic dial SMPc models.

Long story short, the current gen straps do fit the 41mm first gen SMP, but it isn't a perfect fit. The curvature is slightly different from the lugs, the height is slightly lower than the bezel, and yes - the springbars are very slightly out of place. The good news is, all of these differences are very slight and it totally does work and look great on wrist. Importantly, you can use the correct original springbars, and you won't damage them or the watch. But it is fiddly, and it can take a few minutes per side to get the strap attached.

The reason for the difficulty, as far as I can tell, is that the springbar holes are either further out, or higher, or a combination of both compared to the newer references. So you have to angle the inner lip of the strap down a little bit to lift the point where the springbar is up by barely enough (Less than 1mm probably) to locate the springbar tips in the holes. This probably puts a tiny bit of extra pressure on them, but from what I can tell nowhere near enough that I would stress about damaging them. Consider that with many bracelets, there is a little bit of play which would be pulling on the springbar barrels during wear anyway - I don't think that's any different here.

I found the best way to install them was to position one springbar tip in one lug, and then compress the tip on the other side and angle it down to get it almost in place, then just very carefully kind of "hunt around" with it adjusting the angle and position slightly until the tip manages to find its hole and click into place. This took me a few minutes and several slips out of the lug (Thumb applying pressure from dial side of lug so if it slips out it does so on the underside) but I imagine once you had more experience with it, you could probably do the strap change in a couple of minutes.

End result is a snug fit, with a very slight downward angle, but not enough to notice. You could maybe get an improved fit with curved springbars, but personally I think it's about as good as it can be with the included springbars. Speaking of, I measured these - Omega supply springbar 068ST2207 for 20 mm rubber. This is the exact same part number they supply for the standard 20 mm bracelet. Usually they supply a slightly longer barrel springbar for straps meant for 20 mm lugs, but I think they're supplying the bracelet part because the rubber strap fills the entire lug space like a bracelet does, so the strap springbar (068ST2208) with a 1mm longer barrel would be too hard to install and remove.

Finally, just a general review of the strap beyond fitment, it is excellent. The rubber looks great, it's really soft and comfortable, the buckle is absolutely amazing and matches the lyre lugs, and it came in the same fancy travel case style packaging as the NATOs do when bought online. I didn't pay for the optional spring bar tool this time, but they still included it - woohoo, a spare. It felt a bit firm to put on at first because the keepers are a bit restrictive, especially the titanium reinforced fixed keeper, but you get the hang of it really quickly. I have an 18 cm (7.1") wrist and I'm wearing it snug but not tight on the third from smallest hole.

In summary, though it can be annoying to install, I highly recommend the current gen rubber strap on OG Bond Seamasters. There is no risk of damage or need to get different springbars, and the shape discrepancy is very subtle and not noticeable on wrist.

ErichPryde

Both springbars are useable- omega issues different lengths for their bracelets than their straps. That said- I can't get a standard omega 20x1.8mm bar to work either, and I ended up using a 20x1.5mm bar. I don't have any concern about this at all. Uncle Seiko sells a decent 1.5mm bar, or a Rolex 1.5mm bar would probably work.

ErichPryde

There is no play against the case, because the lug holes are just a bit closer to the case on this model then they are the current generation ceramic, which has a wider lug to lug. The springbar IS loose in the strap before it goes on, but very snug once mounted.

And yes, I believe that Uncle Seiko has now been renamed Uncle straps.

As far as how long I've been wearing it this way? I can't answer that concisely because I change back and forth between the bracelet semi-regularly. It's stayed mounted this way for multiple days of consistent wearing without any issue at a time though? Hope that helps.

M M3rmaid

How did you get the springbar into the second hole (hole on the other side) after inserting one side when installing? For some reason, I can't get the other side of the springbar to find the hole on the other side...

Also, the original springbars in the SS bracelet are slightly shorter than the ones included with the latest rubber strap. Are both usable when installing the rubber strap?

Jakeys said:

Speaking of, I measured these - Omega supply springbar 068ST2207 for 20 mm rubber. This is the exact same part number they supply for the standard 20 mm bracelet. Usually they supply a slightly longer barrel springbar for straps meant for 20 mm lugs, but I think they're supplying the bracelet part because the rubber strap fills the entire lug space like a bracelet does, so the strap springbar (068ST2208) with a 1mm longer barrel would be too hard to install and remove.

ErichPryde

I don't think so. I have a bag of spring bars i went through and compared the length pretty accurately vs the bracelet bar length.

M M3rmaid

Thanks ErichPryde and Jakeys! I managed to get the OEM rubber installed with a 20mm x 1.5mm spring bar. It looks great.

Another question: are your 20 x 1.5mm spring bars slightly shorter than the 20 x 1.8mm ones of the SS bracelet? (Yes, the latter are already shorter than the 1.8mm spring bars included with the rubber, so the 1.5mm ones are even shorter.) I still managed to get it to fit (hopefully securely), but just wondering..

padders

Just saying but as I already noted about a page ago, if you find it doesn’t fit very well, it’s because it doesn’t fit very well and you are asking for trouble.

Jakeys

I assume your question was directed at Erich, but I don't have or use 1.5 mm spring bars. If it helps, the 068ST2207 part supplied with my rubber strap, which is what I use, has a barrel length of 16.4 mm. It's the same spring bar as used on the 20 mm bracelet. The spring bar supplied with 20 mm leather straps is 068ST2208, which has a barrel length of 17.4 mm. I haven't tried this one, but I'd assume it's harder to seat.

M M3rmaid

For reference, here are the lengths of my spring bars (estimated to the tenth mm as I'm using a ruler):

From 2531.80 OEM SS "tank tread" bracelet - doesn't fit with new rubber on 2531.80

• barrel length: close to 16.5mm
• total (uncompressed) length: slightly over 22mm

From the modern OEM rubber strap - doesn't fit

• barrel: close to 17.5mm
• total: slightly over 23mm

(Jakeys - it appears that we tried the same 2 types of spring bars I listed above, but you're able to successfully fit former, while I for some reason was not able to 😅)

The only spring bars that fit for me so far are the ones from the modern OEM SS mesh bracelet. I don't have their measurements as I've already installed them onto the watch and don't want to take them off just yet, but their total length is even shorter than those from the 2531.80 OEM SS bracelet.